Spectacle cases



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June 28, 1960 Filed Jan. 30, 1958 J. A. HUEBER ETAL 2,942,724

SPECTACLE CASES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VEN TORS Jasepfi A. 15 2/6621 &.

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ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 J. A. HUEBER ET AL 2,942,724

SPECTACLE CASES Filed Jan. 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

June 28, 1960 .1. A. HUEBER ET AL 2,942,724

SPECTACLE CASES Filed Jan. 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. Jay/7A Husker A TTORNEYS.

June 28, 1960 J. A. HUEBER ETAL 2,942,724

SPECTACLE CASES Filed Jan. 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNEYS.

*SPEQTAGLE CASES Joseph A. Hueher, Nat-ber h, antlEdward K. Hueber, Philadelphia, 1 22., assignors to Kelley & Hneher, Inc, Philadelphia, Pa, anorporationtof Pennsylvania Filed Jan. '36, 1958,3912 No. 7-12 '607 4 Claims. (Cl. 2065) This invention relates to "improvements in spectacle cases, and more particularly concerns spectacle cases having means for spacing the spectacle "lenses from the walls of the cases.

This application comprises a continuation-in-part of our previous United States patent application Serial No. 552,590, filed Apri 12, 1957, for a spectacle 'case, 'now abandoned.

'In designing spectacle cases, special, attentionhas been given to the problem of preventing scratching or otherwise matting of the lenses of the. spectacles. 'Because spectacle lenses are made from relatively soft glass, they are more susceptible 'to such damage than are ordinary glass objects. Inthe past, designers have sought to overcome the problem of lens scratching by lining the inner walls of spectacle cases with "soft materials such as leather, velveteen, silk and the like. Such linings are intended to provide a soft surface against which "the lenses rest in the case.

"Inner case linings have not proven to be 'fully'satisfactory for the reason that in the 'COflIS6,Of use ofjthe cases dirt, grit and similar foreign matter tend co-collect and become embedded in the linings. Since the lenses of the'spectacles in such cases rest snugly against the wall lining, they are often pressed against-such embedded foreign matter and become scratched or otherwise damaged. The recent and rapidly 'growing'use of plastic lenses, which are considerably softer than glass lenses, and hence more susceptible to damage, has made the problem of lens protection more acute The chief aim ofthis invention is to overcome the above described disadvantages by providing spectacle cases having means for spacing the lenses of the spectacles between and free of contact with the walls of the cases, and thereby prevent the lenses from rubbing or being pressed against the surfaces of the walls with resultant likelihood of scratching, ma-rring or other damage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be obvious from the following detailed description of the attacheddrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred spectacle case embodying this invention and having a pair of spectacles therein;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of a plastic liner for use in the case of Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is a view in top plan of the case liner shown in Fig. 4 is a view in section taken as indicated by the angled arrows IV-IV in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, partial view of the right hand cndof the liner of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16 is a partial view-in section taken as indicated by the angled arrows VI--VI in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken as indicated by the angled arrows VII-VII in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a View in front elevation of another typeof spectacle case embodying this invention and having a pair of spectacles therein;

nite States *Patent Q ice Fig. 9 is a partial view in-section taken as 'indicat'ed by the'angled arrows 1XIX'in'-Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the nose block and lens spacing means of the case'of'l' ig. 8, the -two elements being disengaged;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the nose block and lens'spacing means of-"Fig. 10 as an integral unit;

'Fig. 12 is a perspective view'of a nose block and a modified lens spacing means for use in thec'ase of Fig. 8, the two elements being disengaged;

Fig. 13-is a perspective view showingthe nose block and lens spacing means of Fig. 12 in assembled relation;

Fig. 1-4 'is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing use of the nose block and lens spacing means of -Figs. '1'2 and I3 in the case of. Fig. 8;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the nose block and lens spacing means of Figs. 12 and 13 asanintegral unit;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another modified integral nose block and lensspacing means with a pair of spectacles supported thereon;

Fig. 17 is apartial view in section taken'as indicated by the angled arrows XVII-XVII in Fig. 16 showing the nose block and lens spacing means thereof inserted in a spectacle case;

Fig. I8 is a perspective view of yet another modified integral nose block and lens spacing means with aip'air of spectacles supported thereon;

Fig. 19 is a partial view in sectionv taken as indicated byithe angled arrows .XIXXIX inFig. 18 showing the nose block and lens spacing means thereof inserted in a spectacle case;

'Fig. 201s aperspective view of yet another type of .taclecase embodying invention and having alpair of spectacles therein; and

Fig. '21 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXIXX[ in Fig. '20,

Although specific terms are used in the following description for clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structures shown in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of "the invention selected for illustration in Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, the number 11 designates, generally a spectacle case-hav ing acuplike liner 15 inserted therein. Spectacle case 1 1 is preferably made of a flexible material, such as leather or plastic, and liner '15 is preferably made of a rigid material, such as plastic formed :by the injection molding process. In practice, liners made of high impact styrene have proven to be highly satisfactory.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7, the spectacle case 11 isformed with. opposing front andrear walls 16 and 17 of like contour and size which are joined together along their abutting bottom and. side. edges by suitable means, such. as stitches 18, to 'form apockeL. It will. be understood that walls 16 and 17 may be joined. together by other means, such as by anadhesive, or by heat sealing, if made of plastic. .Flap .13, which preferablyis folmed integrally with wall 17, is adapted to overlie the outside surface of wall 16 to provide a closure/for the case 11. The walls 16 and 17 andfiap v13 ofcase 11 are blanked from suitable sheet material in a manner well known in the art and are shaped so as to provide a pocket of suitable configuration for snugly retaining the liner I5.

- A snap fastener having female element 21 mounted in l the same time permitting their easy insertion and removal.

The spectacles 23 held in the liner have lenses 26 and a frame '24 which includes temples 25, a nose bridge 27 and nose rest pieces 30. The lenses 26 face rearwardly of the case I 1 and the temples are folded over .the outside surface o f the front wall 16. *Thus, the temples 25 are securely retained between the front wall 16 and the flap 13 when the case 11 is closed. it V As shownin Figs. 2 and 3, the liner 15 'is divided transversely into separate, opposing front and rear portions 28 and29. The inner surface of rear; portion 29 is provided 'with a lense spacer element 31 which has grooves 32 formed therein to elfect a saving of material.

Spacer element 31 contacts nose bridge 27 of the spectacles 23 to space thelenses 26 from the rear wall of liner 15. r The nose rest pieces of the spectacles 23 contact the front wall of the liner 15V and space the lenses 26 therefroma Thus, the spectacle lenses 26 are spaced 7 r from both the front and rear walls of the liner 15 and v are prevented from being scratched or otherwise damaged provide full protectionfor the'lenses 26 while'the liner front portion 28 is of somewhat less height to enable the temples 25 to envelop the outside of front wall 16. The

top edges of the side walls of the'liner 15 are. forwardly inclined so as to merge with the top edges of the front and back walls thereof and thereby provide a t.

' fsmooth periphery about the open end of the liner. ,Rear

portion 29 of the liner 15-t(see Fig. 5) is provided at each side thereof'with bosses 33 which have extending inwardly therefrom protuberances34, Frontportion 28,

' is similarly provided with bosses 35 whichhave formed therein. recesses 36 for detachably and snugly engaging theprotuberances 34. .Rear portion 29 of liner 15'..is

further provided with centrally disposed inwardly extendnose block for nose bridge 27. a a

7 As mayreadilybe'seen, in assembling caselliner 1 5,

recesses 36' engage protuberances 34, recess 43.engages protuberance 37 and recess 44 engages protuberance 38 to detaichably secure the front and re'ar portions 28 and 29wofc'aseliner'l5 1 1 "1 'Ilieouter surface of the fro nt parasitism-15 maybe provided with a'protuberance "to fit snugly there shown has front and rear'walls 52 and '53 preferably integrally joined along a juncture 54. A flap 55 integrally joined to rear wall 53 is adapted to overlie the outside surface of front wall 52 to provide a closure for the case 51. V The walls 52 and 53Vand flap 55 are blanked from flexible sheet material to provide a case suitably configured to snugly retain a pair of spectacles having lenses 26, temples 25 anose bridge 27 and nose rest pieces 30. As may readily be seen, the side edges of the walls 52 and 53 are not joined and hence the case 51 is open at both ends.

j "A snap fastener having male and female elements 57 and 58 is used to detachably close the case 51. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the male element 57 of the snap fastener is clamped to the front wall 52 of the case 51 by a pair of opposing flanges 69 and 70 disposed, respectively, on the outside and inside of wall 52 and joined by a sleeve or stud 71.

Disposed within the case 51 is a nose block 5 9 of generally U-shaped configuration and a lens spacer element 60 of generally rectangular configuration. As best 7 shown in Fig. 10, the front end of the nose block 59 is formed with a partial wall 62 having a centrally disposed opening 63 therein of a generally keyhole-like configuration. The top portion of the opening 63 comprises a circular aperture 64 at the bottom of which are disposed apair of spaced opposingprotuberances,65. The rear side edges 660i the opposing legs of the nose block 59 taper forwardly from the top thereof. The nose block 59-is-formed of resilient material such as sheet metal jection molded.

The spacer element suitably blanked, or plastic, such as styrene, suitably in- 60 has a'u shaped groove 67 formed in itsfrontface into which therear portion of the nose the hollow 46 formed inthe male member, 22,. of

the snap fastener to retain the-liner securely within the pocket at the case 11. Additionally, thei'outer' surfaces pfthe liner portions'28 and 29 may be roughened or stippled topromote'j frictional resistance with the inside Surfaces of pocket walls 16 and 17* and thereby aid in retaining the liner securely in thepocket of case '11.

' 1 Alternatively, the 1ifl r .15 maybe firmly retained in V,

"the-pocket of case 11, by means of an' adhesive bond 7 between the contiguous walls of the liner and case. When T .coatin'g of a volatile plastic solvent to the outside walls of th'e'liner' priorto its insertion in the pocket of the thelinerrlSlisredmposed of a pla stic 11 nate rial,1 an efiec tiverbond forthispurpose is achieved by applying a thin inso doing adheres tothe insidelwalls of the case 11, 'thus' creating a, bond between the liner and the. case presently distributed under the trademarkfLo-Tox Plastic V acetone, methyl-ethyl-ketone and lacquer thinner, serves as.aneifective'bondingsolvent;

/ 7 7 pocket." With a liner 15 compos'edof styrene, a' solvent f black 59 is snugly engaged, as. shown in Fig. 9. The spacer element 60 maybe composed of either metal or plastic, but it is not necessary that it be of the same;composition as the nose block 59. However, if desired, the

nose block 59 and spacerelement 60 maybe formed as D "I an integral unit, asshown in Fig. 11. o

Thenose block59 and lens spacer element 60 are of such dimension that, when assembled togetheryth ey will fit snugly within the pocket formed by'the walls 52 and 59l1as a diameter' slightly larger than the outsidediaineter of thesleeve 71 of the snap fastener 'male element 57, and the protuberances 65 oftthe nose block 59 are spaced from' each other a distance; somewhat lessthan the diameter of the sleeve-71.;Sii1ce the nose 'block is formed, ofresilient material, it may be detach-ably secured within the case 51 to the'male element 5 7 by forcing the protuberance-65 over sleeve; 71 adjacent flange, 70 so that the sleeve is engaged in the aperture 64, as shown in'Fig." 9. During normal useof ,the'case 51, the protuberances 65'will preventdislodgment of the nose block 59 from the sleeve 71. Since the nose block 59.snugly' engages the groove 67' of the spacer element 60 when the latter is inserted in the case =51,the nose block 59,

when detachably secured to sleeve 71; acts'to preventdis lodgmentpof' spacen'element '60 during normal use 'of 7 ported,"the -spacer element '60 contacts the nose bridge 27 and acts to space the lenses 26'from the rear'wall 53 of the case 51.: 'lhusflhelenses 26 are suspended intermediate of and free of contact with thefwalls 52 and 53.

' -f'1 '.Figs 12, 13 and 1 4 there is Shawna modifiedrorm of lens spacerelement 60"for use in connection with' nose 1 block 59in case51.- The spacer element 60' comprises grally joined by a flexible connector 76. The spacer component 75 has a U-shaped groove .67 formed in its inner face into which the rear portion of .thenose block 59 is snugly engaged, as shown in Fig. 14. The spacer component 74 .has a U-shaped recess 77 .formed therein in the bottom of which is a centrally disposedopening 78 of keyhole-like configuration having a circular aperture 79 at the top thereof. The opening 78 in spacer element 60' is of such configuration and is so located as to be congruent with the opening .63 in nose block 59 when the nose block and spacer element 60' are properly assembled, as shown in Fig. 13. As is clearly shown in Fig. 13, the distal ends of the opposing legs of the nose block 59 rest upon the connector 76 when-the nose block and spacer element 60 are assembled.

The assembled nose blck 59 and spaced element 60' are detachably secured within the pocket of case 51 by snapping their congruent apertures 79 and 64 onto the sleeve 71 of the snap fastener male element 57, as shown in Fig. 14. With the spacer element 60', it is immaterial whether the lenses 26 of the spectacles face rearwardly or forwardly of case 51 for in either event the spacer components 74 and 75 serve to space the lenses from the case walls 52 and 53. It is to be noted that in Fig. 14 the lenses 26 face forwardly of the case 51.

If desired, the nose block 59 and spacer element 60' may be formed as an integral unit, as shown in Fig. 15. In such event, there is no need for the opening 63 in the nose block and hence its front wall 62 may be eliminated. The integral unit of Fig. 15 will be effectively retained within the pocket of case 51 by snapping the aperture 79 of the spacer element 60' onto the sleeve 71 of the snap fastener male element 57.

Referring next to Fig. 16, where the outline of a spectacle case is indicated in dot and dash lines, and also to Fig. 17, there is disclosed a further embodiment of this invention. More particularly, there is shown a unitary nose block and lens spacer element having spaced upstanding front and rear spacer components 80 and 81 integrally joined at their bottoms to a support 82 for the nose bridge 27 of a pair of spectacles. Disposed at the bottom of support 82, in T-shaped relation thereto, is an elongated block 83 having generally U-shaped indentations 84 formed in the opposite ends thereof. The block 83 either may be integrally joined to support 82 or may be a separate element secured thereto by an appropriate adhesive.

With a pair of folded spectacles resting on support 82 intermediate of spacer components 80 and 81, the lower portions of the frames of the lenses 26 are disposed, respectively, within the indentations 84 and hence are retained thereby against pivotal forward or rearward displacement about support 82. Thus, the spacer components 80 and 81 and the indentations 84 cooperate to prevent the spectacle lenses 26 from coming into contact with the inside walls of the spectacle case. Preferably, the unitary nose block and lens spacer element of Figs. 16 and 17 is formed of plastic and is secured within the spectacle case by means of an adhesive indicated at 86 in Fig. 17.

With the unitary nose block and lens spacer element of Figs. 16 and 17, it is immaterial whether the spectacles are inserted in the case with their lenses facing rearwardly or forwardly, for in either event they are sustained free of contact with the case walls. it is to be noted that in Fig. 16 the spectacle lenses face rearwardly of the case, whereas in Fig. 17 they face forwardly thereof.

In Figs. 18 and 19 there is shown still another embodiment of this invention, the same comprising a unitary nose block and lens spacer element having spaced from. and rear spacer components 88 and 89 joined at their bottoms by a support 90 for the nose bridge 27 of a pair of spectacles. The spacer components 88 and 89 are supported at their upper ends upon spaced front and rear walls 91 and 92 Which, :as shown ;in.Fig- :19, arev in contiguous relationwith the walls. of the spectacle case when inserted in the-pocket thereof. Dependent from the front wall91, ,at each end thereof, arelegs 93,-,each of which is ,paired in spaced relation with a correspond ing leg 94 dependent from rear wall 92. Each pair of legs 93 and -94 sustain ;a laterally extending elongated channel 95 having a groove 96 in the bottom thereof. The grooves 96 in the channels 95 support the lower portions of the frames of thespectacle lenses 26 and at the same time prevent their pivotal displacement about support 90. Thus, the spacer components 88 and 89 and the channels .95 cooperate to prevent the spectacle lenses26 from coming into contact both with the spacer component supporting walls 91 and 92 and with the walls of the pocket of the spectacle case.

The unitary nose block and lens spacer element of Figs. 18 and 19 preferably is formed of metal blanked from suitable sheet stock and enveloped within a covering of soft textile, leather or plastic material, or is formed of rigid injection molded plastic, such as styrene or the like. The front wall 91 is formed with a keyholelike opening 98 which is adapted to be detachably secured to the sleeve 71 of the snap fastener male element 57 to retain the unit within the pocket of the spectacle case.

With the unitary nose block and lens spacer element of Figs. 18 and 19, it is immaterial whether the spectacles are inserted in the case with their lenses facing rearwardly or forwardly, for in either event they are sustained free of contact with the walls of the case. It is to be noted that in Fig. 18 the spectacle lenses face rearwardly of the case, whereas in Fig. 19 they face forwardly thereof.

In Figs. 20 and 21 there is shown the adaptation of this invention to another type of spectacle case 101 having a rear wall 102, an abbreviated front wall 103, end walls 104 and a closure flap 105. The case 101 preferably is made of rigid material, such as sheet metal, and has an inside lining of soft, flexible material and an outside covering of somewhat sturdier material. Disposed centrally of the inner surface of the rear wall 102 is a lens spacer element 106 which is adapted to space the lenses 26 of the spectacles from the wall 102. The spacer element may be a separate element adhesively secured to the wall 102 or may comprise an integral boss formed in the wall 102 by press stamping.

The lenses 26 are spaced from the flap 105 by the folded temples 25, which are retained within the case 101. If desired, a lens spacer element similar to the spacer element 106 may be centrally disposed of the inner surface of the flap 105, in which event the spectacles may be placed in the case 101 with their lenses 26 disposed either forwardly or rearwardly thereof.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been described in detail, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A spectacle case having opposing walls disposed in spaced relation; means whereby said walls are joined together at their opposing ends; spectacle support means mounted internally of the case and sustained on at least one of said walls; a spacer element mounted internally of the case and sustained on at least one of said walls for spacing the spectacle lenses from the case walls; and means whereby the spacer element and the support means are detachably secured to each other.

2. A spectacle case according to claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a nose block adapted to engage the nose bridge of the spectacles.

3. A spectacle case having a pocket formed by opposing case walls; a rigid cup-like liner disposed within the pocket, said liner comprising detachable opposing portions complementally configured to retain a pair of spectacles therebetween; means for detachably securing said liner portions 'in opposing r elationshipispectacle support means mounted internallyjof' the liner and Supported on one of said liner portions; a spacer element mounted internally ofithe liner and supported on one of said liner portions for spacing the spectacle lenses intermediate the 5 liner portions; and means 'for detachably securing the spacer element to the spectacle support means. 7 r

V 4. In a spectacle case, a rigid cup-like liner, said liner comprising separate opposing portions complementally configured -to retain a pair "of spectacles'there'between; 1

' the'liner and supported on one of said linerportions for 1 V a 8 spacing'the spectacle lenses intermediate of said liner portions; and means for detachably securing the spacer element and the spectacle support means together. I

' References-Cited in the fileof this patentj UNITED STATES TENTS 602,025 White A r. 5,; i898 2,656,912 Stegeman Oct."27, 1953 2,667,965 Laibson Feb. 2, 1 954 2,708,025 Baratelli May 10, 1955 2,710,685 Baratelli June 14,1955 2,805,766 7 Nathan Sept. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Q; "Q June 17; l9 40 

